Devils notes: Young moved back to defense

Harry Young was back at Albany Devils practice today but as a defenseman, not a left wing.

The experiment to make Young, whose 280 penalty minutes in 131 pro games define his role, made a move to left wing, where the Devils hoped his 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame would pay dividends.

“We made the decision collectively to move him back on D,” Albany coach Rick Kowalsky said. “We did a bit of a forward experiment here, but he personally feels more confident and comfortable on the back end, so he has been playing D quite regularly down in Kalamazoo.”

Young has played only one game for Albany. He has played 32 in the ECHL with one assist and 50 penalty minutes.

“I was getting used to forward,” Young said after practice. “I was almost 30 games in, but defense, it’s just one of those things, I’ve been playing my whole life. It’s like riding a bike.

“You’re never going to forget how to do it. It’s always going to be an comfortable experience. I’m happy to be back on the back end, and hopefully I can help out.”

Wednesday woes: After the Devils were shellacked 6-0 Wednesday night by the Syracuse Crunch, assistant captain Tim Sestito said matter-of-factly, “I don’t know what it is, these Wednesday games have been kind of clunkers for us.”

So we went back and looked it up. The Devils are 1-4 in Wednesday games:

Oct. 24: vs. Connecticut, L 5-2

Dec. 12: vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, W 6-3

Dec. 19: at Bridgeport, L 4-3

Jan. 23: vs. Springfield, L 4-2

Feb. 13: vs. Syracuse, L 6-0

There is one Wednesday game remaining, March 27 at home against St. John’s.